Obsidian studio head: Our plate is full right now, but I'd love to make another Fallout game before I retire

Saucycarpdog · Jan 20, 2023

Studio head Feargus Urquhart recently did an interview and got asked, of course, about a possible Fallout game.

The Past. Urquhart: My greatest triumph? Obsidian survived

Creator, manager, darling killer. The man responsible for shipping RPGs that shaped the imagination of a whole generation. We talked to Feargus Urquhart about the history of Black Isle and Obsidian – the legacy, the future and what’s important in RPGs.

www.gamepressure.com

HS: The last question, the dangerous one. I have to ask! Is there any chance for this hypothetical new Fallout from Obsidian to occur?

FU: We're not working on it right now, our plate is pretty full with Avowed, Grounded and Outer Worlds 2. I don't know when we're going to start talking about new games, maybe towards the end of next year [conversation took place before Christmas 2022 – ed. note]. We just have to see what's going on. That's the best way to say it. There's nothing in the plans, nothing on the piece of paper that says that. But I'll stick to what I said. I would love to make another Fallout before I retire. I don't know when that is, I don't have a date of my retirement. It's funny – you can say I'm already 52, or only 52. It's one of those two, depending on the day. My hope is that'll happen, but we'll have to wait and see.

hobblygobbly · Jan 20, 2023

considering how far fallout 5 is from being released, with TES VI still to come out, *something* needs to be made for Fallout, would suck for the IP to be dormant for so long until BGS gets around to it because fallout 5 isn't coming before 2030 at the very least. even todd howard himself said it sucks

even with obsidian full… inXile is also owned by Microsoft, they're a perfect fit too. BGS, Obsidian, and inXile also have people at all 3 studios that worked on the fallout IP before

and i don't necessarily need a big fallout game, something smaller in scope that is still the same formula would work, even if it's a shorter story, smaller worldspace, etc. i would like any fallout

GameShowPresident · Jan 20, 2023

I know it's been assumed that Bethesda would be doing Fallout 5, but what's stopping MS from giving it to Obsidion instead? It's not like one studio has more ownership than the other (unless there were some terms in the purchase of Bethesda that I'm unaware of).

Katbobo · Jan 20, 2023

Josh Sawyer mentioned also being open to it right?

It makes all the sense in the world for Obsidian to tackle a side entry in the next decade that we're looking at before Bethesda probably gets around to another one.

AImalexia · Jan 20, 2023

GameShowPresident said:
I know it's been assumed that Bethesda would be doing Fallout 5, but what's stopping MS from giving it to Obsidion instead? It's not like one studio has more ownership than the other (unless there were some terms in the purchase of Bethesda that I'm unaware of).

that sounds like a quick & easy way to piss off your most important studio

another spin off like fnv I think is likely to be made at obsidian, but the next mainline title... no way

IIFloodyII · Jan 20, 2023

Bethesda probably aren't getting to the next Fallout for probably 10+ years (probably closer to 15 if TES is anything to go by) so definitely be a smart move to look at other studios.

Man Called Aerodynamics · Jan 20, 2023

Really hoping for a New Vegas follow-up.

Kind of a sad comment on modern dev cycles that you have to start laying plans now if you want to get something done in the next 13 years. :P

00Quan[T] · Jan 20, 2023

I bet they'll develop the next Fallout together with the 76 team.

NCR Ranger · Jan 20, 2023

GameShowPresident said:
I know it's been assumed that Bethesda would be doing Fallout 5, but what's stopping MS from giving it to Obsidion instead? It's not like one studio has more ownership than the other (unless there were some terms in the purchase of Bethesda that I'm unaware of).

Nothing probably, except possible internal office politics.

Doesn't matter it's Fallout 5 or some spin off. MS would be pants on head stupid to wait another decade+ to release another Fallout title. Either they need to make more Bethesda teams or they need to farm it out to one of their other RPG studios.

DarkVaber32 · Jan 20, 2023

I mean a title like "Fallout New Vegas 2" would be an instabuy for many. I know we got The Outer Worlds as a "fallout light" game, and the sequel is going to release in the near future. But it's sad that the next true Fallout title is several years away, most likely even after the release of GTA 6.

Tab · Jan 20, 2023

Yeah, I think this'll happen. I can't see Microsoft just allowing the Fallout IP to sit dormant for over a decade. We know Bethesda is doing Elder Scrolls after Starfield, so it can't be them. It'll probably be another side game ala New Vegas, leaving the numbered titles to Bethesda. That and I'm sure they're aware of the fan demand for Obsidian specifically.

Sordid Plebeian · Jan 20, 2023

I can't wait any longer we haven't had a good Fallout game since New Vegas

Please come back

Tabaxi · Jan 20, 2023

Considering we won't see a new Fallout Game until well into 2030s, it would make all the sense in the world to give a game to Obsidian in the meanwhile.

Kittenz · Jan 20, 2023

GameShowPresident said:
I know it's been assumed that Bethesda would be doing Fallout 5, but what's stopping MS from giving it to Obsidion instead? It's not like one studio has more ownership than the other (unless there were some terms in the purchase of Bethesda that I'm unaware of).

From the start - and who knows, maybe contractually somehow? - Bethesda has been regarded as its own separate entity within the greater Xbox system. The upcoming showcase is "Xbox and Bethesda" for example.

There's no way Phil and his team tell Todd Howard they are just taking the IP without his blessing. What a disaster for relationships with studios.

Villein · Jan 20, 2023

with both under Microsoft, there is 0 reason to not let Obsidian make another one set on the West coast, especially since fallout 5 is like 10 years away

Vic Damone Jr. · Jan 20, 2023

Would love it

UraMallas · Jan 20, 2023

I'm actually coming around to this idea tbh. I at first didn't want them to farm out Fallout 5, or even a spinoff. When you think about just how far away 5 is, considering how Toddrick likes to make his games, I think Obsidian would be a great team to 'offload' that franchise to. At least so we can have something in a 15 year window here.

Make it happen, Xbox.

scatterbrain · Jan 20, 2023

Even though the team that made New Vegas is mostly gone, I'd love nothing more than for this to happen. Not getting my hopes up, though.

Azerth · Jan 20, 2023

let them make a spin off like new vegas that way Bethesda can still make fallout 5 when ever that ends up happening

Dekim · Jan 20, 2023

Modern game development takes 5-7 years for games that clock in at less than 20 hours of playtime. For Fallout/Elder Scrolls-tier games, add a few more years due to scope/scale, and you're likely looking at about 10 years of dev time. This also assumes that development goes well and there's no delays or reboots. Even if Obsidian starts today, we won't see their Fallout until the early 2030s if development's smooth sailing. By then, Mr. Urquhart will be knocking on retirement at 62.

Thrill_house · Jan 20, 2023

One can only hope. 4 was really pretty but I couldn't help but feel everything else was a huge step backwards from new vegas. I would be quite happy with a game that was even half as good as that one.

StereoVSN · Jan 20, 2023

I guess I should start Fallout 76. We aren't seeing proper Fallout for a long time even if Obsidian picks a spin off to start in 2024. 😭

Extra Sauce · Jan 20, 2023

how does Todd Howard feel about New Vegas? I vaguely remember people on this community saying something about Howard getting between Obsidian and the franchise but I don't know if that was anything more than hearsay.

Gavalanche · Jan 20, 2023

They are lying. Once the Activision purchase is done, they are clearly going to work on Arcanum 2.

Zaied · Jan 20, 2023

I'm hopeful Microsoft will figure something out with the studios they have; I'd rather not have to wait until the 2030s to play the next Fallout. Obsidian getting another crack at it would be awesome, but it's hard to see how plausible that is since they're tied up with three other big projects, and we know Bethesda still has to release Starfield and TES VI before development can start on Fallout 5.

-Tetsuo- · Jan 20, 2023

Josh Sawyer save us

GulfCoastZilla · Jan 20, 2023

Could they do a spin-off of 4?
I still don't know why 4 wasn't liked as much?

Juryvicious · Jan 20, 2023

You and me both Feargus. Also, how many times will this be mentioned by them in recent years, there has to be something to this by now.

Saucycarpdog · Jan 20, 2023

Juryvicious said:
You and me both Feargus. Also, how many times will this be mentioned by them in recent years, there has to be something to this by now.

Cause journalists keep asking lol.

People wanting them to do it and them actually doing it are two different things.

Zor · Jan 20, 2023

FALLOUT NEW RENO.

Let's go.

Plz.

Doskoi Panda · Jan 20, 2023

Gavalanche said:
They are lying. Once the Activision purchase is done, they are clearly going to work on Arcanum 2.

Tbh we need that more than we need another Obsidian Fallout

And I fucking LOVE New Vegas, but just imagine a modern Arcanum. Whew.

BringBackSonics · Jan 20, 2023

Solid said:
Tbh we need that more than we need another Obsidian Fallout

And I fucking LOVE New Vegas, but just imagine a modern Arcanum. Whew.

But like the first one, that might not sell very well.

Gavalanche · Jan 20, 2023

BringBackSonics said:
But like the first one, that might not sell very well.

Does it need to sell with gamepass??? Pentiment didn't exactly set the charts on fire. It doesn't matter!!

Doskoi Panda · Jan 20, 2023

BringBackSonics said:
But like the first one, that might not sell very well.

Ideally, Gamepass + word of mouth would make all the difference

Zor · Jan 20, 2023

Question for the thread!

Would you guys want them to make a post-BGS Fallout, like they did with New Vegas (and I guess The Outer Worlds... never played it!)?

Or something much more their own, maybe like old school Pillars of Eternity/Fallout 1&2-style Fallout?

Gavalanche · Jan 20, 2023

We have like 4? Fallouts (not counting 1 or 2 as they are different beasts). only 1 Arcanum!! And some of the staff who worked on Arcanum are at Obsidian. Makes complete sense!!

People should be asking him about Arcanum, not this Fallout series. Get it out of here!

Roxas · Jan 20, 2023

Yeah, they are for sure going to do a Fallout, they'd be nuts not to, specially with the TV show dropping next year. Hype will go up for Fallout, there's no way they're waiting till BGS is done with ES6. They'll most likely not call it Fallout 5, but it'll happen.

Kasey · Jan 20, 2023

Extra Sauce said:
how does Todd Howard feel about New Vegas? I vaguely remember people on this community saying something about Howard getting between Obsidian and the franchise but I don't know if that was anything more than hearsay.

I think he said he's never played it. He was working on Skyrim at the time so I doubt he had any impact positive or negative beyond having influence on the setting and what lore Obsidian could mess with.

Tigress · Jan 20, 2023

hobblygobbly said:
considering how far fallout 5 is from being released, with TES VI still to come out, *something* needs to be made for Fallout, would suck for the IP to be dormant for so long until BGS gets around to it because fallout 5 isn't coming before 2030 at the very least. even todd howard himself said it sucks

even with obsidian full… inXile is also owned by Microsoft, they're a perfect fit too. BGS, Obsidian, and inXile also have people at all 3 studios that worked on the fallout IP before

and i don't necessarily need a big fallout game, something smaller in scope that is still the same formula would work, even if it's a shorter story, smaller worldspace, etc. i would like any fallout

inXile does Wastelands, correct? I'd be super amused if they made it caues it would totally be full circle (as the original wasteland was the inpsiration for the original Fallout).

Tigress · Jan 20, 2023

Zor said:
Question for the thread!

Would you guys want them to make a post-BGS Fallout, like they did with New Vegas (and I guess The Outer Worlds... never played it!)?

Or something much more their own, maybe like old school Pillars of Eternity/Fallout 1&2-style Fallout?

Post BGS Fallout. Sorry, but part of what made New Vegas so special to me and my favorite game I've played is it took what I love about Bethesda games and improved on what I wish Bethesda would focus more on (more tight RPG). Fallout NV would not be the game I loved without Bethesda's influece.

If they made it like old school Fallout 1 and 2 I'd be very disappointed. I mean I loved 2, it was my 2nd fav fallout, and 1 was ok (but it actually is my least fav fallout). I just much prefer the live action gameplay of Bethesda RPGs and we have Wasteland 2 and 3 for a modern Fallout like turn based RPG (which btw, wasteland was the inspiration for Fallout 1). I just wish Bethesda more focused on the roleplaying.

Xion_Stellar · Jan 20, 2023

Yeah no kidding imagine me telling you to enjoy Fallout 76 back in 2018 because you will not be getting another Fallout game until the PS6 was out

Rygar 8Bit · Jan 20, 2023

For the love of god let them make another one.

TheBrightestSun · Jan 20, 2023

We are not seeing any new Fallout game until 2027 at least.

Dust · Jan 20, 2023

2032 or something. Which is crazy when you think about it. They should remake New Vegas.

overthewaves · Jan 20, 2023

God MS/Bethesda should allow them to do one. Doesn't have to be fallout 5, could be new Vegas 2, New Mexico, London etc. Otherwise we won't have a single player fallout game in another 10 years lol.

Tigress · Jan 20, 2023

overthewaves said:
God MS/Bethesda should allow them to do one. Doesn't have to be fallout 5, could be new Vegas 2, New Mexico, London etc. Otherwise we won't have a single player fallout game in another 10 years lol.

Plus I'd really love another Fallout in a western setting (totally cause I'm biased, I love the western half of the us way more than the eastern half). Now... I am personally voting for a Fallout Washington (hey, our state even has a radiactive zone already IRL).

Doskoi Panda · Jan 20, 2023

Tigress said:
Plus I'd really love another Fallout in a western setting (totally cause I'm biased, I love the western half of the us way more than the eastern half). Now... I am personally voting for a Fallout Washington (hey, our state even has a radiactive zone already IRL).

Fallout Washington with the quality of map design we saw in 76 would be fuckin killer ngl, a green highly vertical map with lots of nooks and crannies...

I'm still hoping for a small but extremely dense New Orleans map from the next Fallout personally

Kami · Jan 20, 2023

When he says they won't talk about new games until late 2023, is he talking about Avowed and Outer Worlds 2 or other new games?

Tremorah · Jan 20, 2023

I would love for that too tbh

vixolus · Jan 20, 2023

Kami said:
When he says they won't talk about new games until late 2023, is he talking about Avowed and Outer Wilds 2 or other new games?

Context seems to imply other new games

Obsidian studio head: Our plate is full right now, but I'd love to make another Fallout game before I retire

Prophet of Truth

Prophet of Truth - Chicken Chaser

Prophet of Regret

Unlimited Capacity

One Winged Slayer

Prophet of Regret

One Winged Slayer

Prophet of Regret

C H A O S

One Winged Slayer

Prophet of Truth